Fluid heater and cooler.



L. D. LOVEKIN. FLUID HEATER AND UOOLEBZ. LPPLIOATIOH mum 11:13.11, 1911.

Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

2 SKBETHEBET 1.

H G 2 :1 M

L. D. LOVBKIN. FLUID HEATER AND COOLER. AYPLIUATION FILED 1211.11, 1911.

1,005,442. mam! 0011.10, 1911.

2 BEETS-SHEET 2.

13. I mg;

NITED PATENT OFFICE.-

-UTHER D. LOVEKIN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLUID HEATER AND COOLER.

1,005,442. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 11, 1911.

. m it may concern:

Be it "Known that I, LUTHER D. LovEKIN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Im provement in Fluid Heaters and Coolers, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference being bath to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thcreo My present invention relates to apparatus for effecting a rapid and eflicient transfer of heat between the fluids of different temperatures, and more particularly to apparatus of the ltind disclosed and claimed in my prior Patent No. 904,627, granted November 24, 1908, and in my pending application,

Serial Number 463,962, filed November 23,

1908, in which a film like space for one of the fluids is provided between tubular elements arranged one within the other and having adjacent surfaces spirally corrugated, the other fluid contactin Qthe other surface of one or both walls 0 said film space.

The general object of my invention isto provide iinirove-d apparatus of the kind specified, c aracterized by the high etliciency obtainable with it, and the simplicity and reliability of the construction and the com )arative ease with which it may be assem led and disassembled when necessary for cleaning and repairs.

A more specific but highly important object of the invention is to provide a con struction in which the joints through which leakage may occur are so disposed that leakage from any one of the fluid spaces of the apparatus may escape freely to the exterior of the apparatus and will not pass into the space or spaces in the apparatus traversed by a different fluid.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of the inven tion and the advantages possessed by it, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter, in which I;have illustrated and described, preferred forms of apparatus embodying the invention.

Patented Oct. 10; 1911. Serial No. 607,940.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a fluid cooling and heating device. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan taken oh the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view taken similarly to Fig. 1, showing a slightly modified construction. .Fig. 4.- is a sectional taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3, and Fig. is a sectional elevation of a modified a rangement of the spirally corrugated tub lar elements.

In the drawings, and referring first to t construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, A I resents the open ended tubular casin of a device for heating oil or water lay use of steam though adapted to be used little or no change for practically any pose in which it is desired to efi'ect a t fer of heat between two fluids. Within t body A and separated therefrom by 1; space B is the spirally corrugated'tu in element 0 formed of some metal suc copper having good 'heat conducti i'ty. The element C, in the construction iliistrated is expanded at its ends to fill gro" es A formed in the end openings A of'jthe end member A. As shown the diamettsof the openings A are less than the intyerior diameter of the body A proper. T e ends of the member C terminate in outurned flanges C which abut against the of the body A.

A and A represent paisages rmedin the member A and communicatlkn with the opposite ends of the space B. s shown, A

is the steam inlet chamber and receives an aperturedor ea c member D which revents the steam supp ied by the pi e D rom iminging directly against t e element 0. The member D is detachably secured in place by a cap member D into which the pipe D is threaded. The passage A serves as the outlet from space '13 for the water of condensation.

Annular casin end members E and F are seciired tothe en s of the body A as by bolts G and G.

G represents ositioning dowels. The members E and I bear against the corresponding flanges C and are thereby spaced away from the member A. The members E and F are. formed with hollow radial extensions, to which pipe connections may be made. E and F respectively indicate the passages in these extensions. Within the tubular element C is disposed a similarlbe grasped and held.

spirally corrugated member H. The diami eters of the elements 0 and H are so proportioned that a film-like and corrugated s ace I is provided between the elements (land H, and it is to the ends of this space that the passages in the extensions E and F lead. The member II has permanently secured to its ends, as by brazing, end connections J and K. The end connection J has a body portion passing through the aperture E in the end member E and a rib at its inner end entering a recess E fOl'l'llCtl in the member E surrounding the inner end of the aperture EH A nut J threaded on the member J on the outer side of the memher E and provided with a reduced end portion entering a recess in the member E surrounding the outer end of the aperture E serves to dctachably secure the members E and J together.

J re resents a member which may be threade onto the outer end of the member J for securing the device to a reservoir wall or pipe connection.

The member K comprises a body portion which fits in the aperture F in the outer end of the member'F and arvexternal rib which enters a recess Fsi1rrounding the outer end of the aperture F. The member K is clam ed in place by a cup-shaped memher L which abuts against the outer end of the member ""and is detachably secured to member A by bolts G. The member L is formed with a ort L which serves to con-. nect the space within the member H to a. suitable pipe connection or drain.

It will be observed that the opening through the end member F is greater in cliameter than the maximum diameter of the corrugated portion of the member H and of the end member J. Furthermore, the thickness of, the film space between the corrugated portions of the members 0 and H is substantially less than the depths of the corrugation grooves in the ad acent surfaces of these members. In conse uence, while it is im ossible to remove the e ement H from the e ement C, by a simple longituy may be readily removed, after the parts J, J and L are detached, by threading it out of the member 0. This makes it easy to assemble the apparatus and to disassemble it for inspection, cleaning or repairs. No claim is made herci nto the features of construction and arrangement whereby this ready assemblage and disassembl'age of the parts may be secured,1as this is disclosedan claimed in my prior application No.-463,962.

To facilitate the threading of the elements H into'and out of place, and to anchor and For instance, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The member K is provided with a diametrically extending crossbar K serving as a handle amh the member J is formed with recesses adapt.- ed to receive a screwdriver or like implc ment. Passages in the mcmbcrs.A. and E and F, normally closed by the plugs A, E

and F are provided for cleaning out the fluid spaces B and I.

At intervals along the length of the film space I arrange sets of lugs II which serve to space the tubular elements apart and prevent lateral displacement or sagging of one with respect to the other, and serve talso as cleaning devices which wipe and clean the inner corrugated surfaces of the element C when the element H is threaded out of the element C. Advantageously each setof lugs may consist of three lugs equally spaced apart around the axis of the element H and secured, two on one side, and one on the other side of a single corrugation couare substantially in the same transverse plane.

The body A and end members E and F may beIJackcted as usual to prevent loss of heat. 11 the drawings the outer casing: portions of such a heat insulating jacket are indicated at P, P and P.

As before stated the apparatus sh'own in Figs. 1 and 2 is primarily devised for use in heating oil by the use of steam. Tn this use of the apparatus, steam is admitted to the space B. through the pipe D, and water of condensation escapes from the space B through the passageh". Steam [5 also admitted to the space M through the thoroughfare formed in the member J and the water of condensation from this space esca ed through the member.L and the port L ormed inthe bottom of the latter. The oil to be heated enters the film space I through the passage F and passes out of this space throu h the assage Way E. It. will be observe that t e direciion of the flow of the fluid (oil) heated, nd of the fluid. (steam) cooled is that which experience has shown to be the most advantageous for obtaining an eflici'ent andetfective trans fer of heatbetwcen the two fluids.

With the construction described, the ink portant advantage is obtained, that any leakage from any of the fluid receiving spaces of the ap aratus along the unbrazcd joints at the en s of the tubular elements, escapes freely to the exterior of the apparatus and hence, leakage through one oint,

in whole, or in part along another joint into a space receiving the other fluid. This is releaqothe end connections, provisions may be made whereby the parts J-andK may of especial impportance in apparatus for heating 011 fuel y the use of steam on shipvolution of the memtTer H so that the lugs from one fluid space doesnot tend to flb'u out through t board, or elsewhere, under conditions which it is desirable that the water of condensation, formed from the steam, shall be pure. Under such izircumstances, the very mi utc leakage of oil into the steam 5 aces ot the apparatus which has occasionally been experienced in the use of apparatus of this general type heretofore constructed, has been found to be highly objectionable. \Vith the present construction. this is entirely done away with. It will be apparent from inspection that leakage from the spaces B or I, for instance. throu h the joints formed at the opposite sides 0 the flanges C will escape freely to the exterior of the apparatus at the peripheries of these flanges, owing to the spacing apart of the members E and A and F and A. This applies also to thejoints between the member K and the members F and L. Similarly, no leakage from the space (3 to the space M can take place through the joint between the members E and J although the construction at this joint is different in character from that at the other joints referred to.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 can be. used without any change at all, or with slight changes, for many dllferent purposes. For cooling oil by the use of water, the external connections should preferably be so changed that the oil enters the film space I through the passage E and passes 1e passage F, while the cooling water enters the s aces M and through the passages A an L respect 'ely, and passes out through the pipe D and passage way E respectively. In this use of the apparatus, the cage D would be purposeless,

and may well be dispensed with.

In using the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as a condenser, the steam or other vapor to be condensed should preferably be admitted to the film space I through the passage way E and the condensate removed through the passageway F, the cooling wa ter, or other fluid, flowin through the apparatus, as in the oil cooling operation described above. Where, as in cooling oil or condensing vapor, water, or other cooling or heating liquid is caused to flow through the spaces B and M, I find it advantageous to corrugate the inner surfaces of the casing body A A, as shown in Figs. 3'and 4, and to provide a displacing body N in the space .M for the purpose of providing a water channel through the element H which like the space R shall be shallow. This increases the rapidity of. flow of the cooling water through the apparatus and breaks up the streams of water with an increase.in the etliciency of the apparatus. The breaking up of the streams of water avoids the loss of efi'ectireness experienced with smooth nnbroken streams from the fact that the sureeived in but not filling said face portion or portions of such unbroken streams serve in effect as insulating layers preventing the free transfer of heat to what may be called the core portions of the streams of water.

In the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the displacing body N employed comprises a body portion spirally corrugated to the same pitch as the members C and I and uncorrugated end portions N and N receiving plugs N which may be brazed in .place and are located at the inner ends of parts N formed in the nntiorrngated end ortions of the member N. The end portion terminates in a flange N which abuts against a shoulder formed on the member J and fits snugly within the corresponding uncorrugatcd end portion of the element H. At its lower end the member N is formed with a similar flange N which abuts against the outer end of the member J. The displacing member N may be held in pqlace by any convenient means, as by screws passing through the flange N into the member K.

IV hen the apparatus is used for condensing apparatus, I find it advantageous to taper one or both of the elements C and H in order to make the film space of decreasing thickness from its upper end at which the vapor is admitted to its lower end at which the condensate is discharged. Such a construction is illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein the outer spirally corrugated element C may be similar to the element C of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive,while the element HA differs from the element H of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, in that it is conical so that the film space IA decreases in thickness from top to bottom. This arrangement in condensing apparatus gives high efficiency combined with compactness and an effective use of material.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statute I have illustrated and described the best forms of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes can be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention, and that certain features of the invention may sometimes beused with advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Lettersi Patent, is:

1. In a device of the kind specified, a

casing portion provided with a chamber aperturedat its ends, a tubular element reby a fluid space surrounding aid=e ement. is provided between the element and the wall of said chamber, said element having end portions passing through said apertures, one

cpam rwherethe end of the casing by said end portion whereby the external ends of the joints between said flanged end portion and said casing and the said member are spaced apart 3. In a devicc of the kind specified. a

casing portion provided with a chamber apcrturcd at its ends, a tubular element rcceivcd in but not filling said chamber whereby a fluid space surrounding said clement is provided between the element and the wall of said chamber, said element having end portions passing through said apertures, one of which is provided with an external flange abutting against the end of the casing at the margin of the corresponding aperture, an annular member abutting against said flanged end portion and forming an extension of the space within said clement. and means for securing said member to said casing, said member being separated from the end of the casing to provide an open space into which open the spaced apart ends of the joints between said flanged end portion and said casing and said member.

3. A device of the character described comprising a tubular body, a tubular element arranged within and separated from said body by a surroundirig space, and fer? minnting in flanges abutting against the end surfaces of the first mentioned tubular clement, annular end members secured to i the body and abutting against the outer suradapted to faces of said flanges and separated from said body portion at the peripheries of the. flanges by open spaces, a second tubular clement arranged within the first; mentioned element and separated therefrom by aspacc and connected to saidand members at the outer ends of the latter.-

4. In a condenser, the combination of a spirally corru ated'vertical tubular elemnt ave a cooling fluid passed through it and a body' surrounding said clement and separated therefrom by a space in which the vapor to be condensed is in troduced and condensed, said body having its inner surface spirally corrugated with the' corrugation convolutions nesting with those of said clement said body and said element being so relatively formed that the space between them decreases in thickness from its upper end to its lower end.

5. A device .of the character described comprisingctubular body portion having its inner surface spirally corruga nd. :1 smrally corrugated tubular clement arranged within said body and separated therefrom by a surromuling space, annular end mombcrs secured to the ends of said body a second spirally corrugated tubular clement rcccircd within the first mentioned elem nt and connected at its ends to the outer ends of said end members and separated from tho first mentioned element to provide a fluid space, the corrugations of said first mentioned clement nesting with the corrugations of said body and said second element.

('1. in a device of the character specified, the combination of a pair of spirally corrugated tubular elements threaded together. but of such diameters that a fluid space is provided between them. and a spirally corrugatcd displacing body arranged within the inner clement with its corrugations nest ing with the corrugations of the latter. and of such diameter that a fluid space is pro rided between said body and said inner element.

7. ln apparatus of the kind described, a spirally corrugated tubular clement, asurrounding tubular member spirally corrugated internally. said element and member bcing so formed and proportioned that a film-like space is provided between them, the thickucss of which is lcssthan the depths of thc corrugatio p grooves. said element having one or more. joints along its length, a plurality of spm'ttl apart lugs secured externally on the outer surface of a single con rugation ctmrolutmn.

8. ln apparatus of the kind described, a

spirally corrugated tubular element, a surrounding tubular member spirally corrugated intcrually. said element and member being so formed and proportioned that a film-like space is provided between them, the thickness of which is less than the depths of the corrugation grooves, said element having one or more joints along its length a plurality of spaced apart lugs secured externally on the outer surface of a single corrugation convolution, said lugs comprising; two located on one slope and a third located on the other slope of said com-'olution.

9. In a device of the kind specified. the combination of means providingfluid space annular in cross section, said means comprising a. spirally corrugated tubular elemcnt forming the inner wall of said space,

and a displacing member comprising a spirally corrugated body portion arranged within but not filling said element and spider-like end portions through which said member is supported.

10. In a device of the kind specified, the combination of means providing fluidspuoo annular in cross-section, said m ans comprising a. spirally corrugated tubular dicmont forming H10 inner wall of said space, and tubular displacing body nrlzingor i \viihin but not filling sui(1elmne|1t,and comprising a vorrclgui'ed body portion and uncm i-ngalull and portions lerminnting in fli'mg vs dosing ihe ends; of twin fluid space butwvvn suivl body and swf'l element and formed with ports comlpcti mg the last men- I l i I r tinned space with the interiors of said end portions and dlaphragms clos ng the lnner 10 ends of said uncorrugated end portaons.

LUTHER D. 'LOVEKIN. Witnesses ARNOLD Kmz, D. STEWART. 

